NPAA Member Ryan Sagady Reaches Out
Category: npaa
Sep 22nd, 2009 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Sep 22nd, 2009 at 12:00 AM
Dear NPAA members,
I am in the process of starting a fishing club at the high school where I teach (Bay City Central in Bay City, MI). The goal is to get as many students involved in the sport of fishing as possible. Every year, I am surprised every year at the number of students who have never been fishing. It is truly hard to believe, considering that many students live within blocks of the Saginaw River or Saginaw Bay. My plans consist of a monthly meeting with a classroom setting, along with guest speakers that could include professional fisherman, Michigan DNR officials, Industry Representatives from Boat, Motor, and Tackle Manufacturers, and Conservation Officers. I would also like to have tackle seminars that will include tying crawler harnesses, lure painting, jig molding, proper lure selection, and many other tackle topics. In the spring we are planning a fishing competition between my school and the other high school in our school district that is located on the other side of the city (Bay City Central vs. Bay City Western). My tournament partner (Ed Clements) teaches at Bay City Western and he is also starting a club; we are using the same plans and organization structure.
Hopefully, with the help from those involved in the NPAA, we can offer students an opportunity to experience fishing and create successful, thriving, and fun fishing club. I plan on contacting the local newspaper and television outlets for coverage of our club activities and fishing competition with Bay City Western. Our local newspaper and television stations do a very good job of covering local school events. I have several contacts with the Bay City Times and with WNEM TV5 our CBS affiliate. Coverage for events that involve students in positive settings is very easy to arrange I also will be developing a website for our club at Central High School to highlight the students’ fishing experiences. This will be a rewarding situation for all involved; the students will experience and learn more about fishing, and the club sponsors will get numerous marketing opportunities through the use of their products in the club, being invited as speakers, advertising through the club website, and positive press coverage from newspaper and television outlets.
I am currently contacting sponsors, local tackle shops, tournament organizations, print media, and industry representatives asking for their support of our clubs. Any donations would be much appreciated. Our club is being started from the ground up with limited funding; our school district does not allocate any money for clubs. Donations to the club could include: tackle, DVDs, apparel, magazines, newsletters, stickers, monetary contributions, or anything you can think of to get kids interested in fishing and the outdoors. We are also looking for people to come and share some of their knowledge with us at our meetings. I would make sure that your involvement is recognized at each club meeting and the tournament.
It would be an honor to have members of the NPAA associated with our fishing club. I would also like to extend an open invitation for any NPAA member to come to our meetings as a featured speaker.
Please contact me if you are interested in helping our club succeed.
Thank you for your time,
Ryan Sagady
NPAA #364
Bay Sportfishing
989-385-1311
baysportfishing.net